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The nation, Ohio, Lucas County and Toledo seem to have lost
sight of the fact that the pandemic is affecting the Black
community and the Latino community disproportionately, more
than the other communities. Many people in these Black
communities are front-line essential workers. The Kaiser
Foundation said the reporting of race and ethnicity by
cities and states on COVID-19 is troubling.
In Toledo, the United Way preregistered many of us and we
received confirmation of the preregistration. However,
people are telling me they have not heard anything
since preregistering, including myself, from United Way nor
the Health Department. I have found that the Area Office on
Aging (Billy Johnson, CEO) has been the most responsive
entity. Black women have been hit the hardest amid Covid job
losses according to USA Today.
US Rep. Jim Clyburn has targeted OSHA with the investigation
of meatpacking companies, which have a large share of
essential workers. Clyburn is chairman of the House Select
Subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis. He also has concerns
about how reporting is being done about Black and Latino
communities, especially our essential workers, a group that
is comprised of a high number of Black and Latino women.
In Michigan, there are several cases against the Governor
Gretchen charging that she didn't have the constitutional
authority to draw up the executive orders that she enacted.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy who is Black will dismiss
all cases against Gov. Whitmer involving the virus response.
Much to my surprise Detroit and Wayne County are ahead of
Toledo and Lucas County in the vaccine distribution shots to
African Americans. This was highlighted on Toledo News TV a
few weeks ago.
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This is Black History Month so I hope we as African
Americans will use every opportunity to advocate for fair
distribution of the shots to our community.
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